Bronx, NY (August 18, 2026) – Nineteen people were injured on the afternoon of August 18 when an FDNY fire truck and an MTA bus collided at a Bronx intersection, according to officials.
The crash happened around 12:30 p.m. at Southern Boulevard and Barretto Street.
Five firefighters and 14 civilians were taken to New York City-area hospitals following the collision, officials said. The bus was carrying more than a dozen passengers at the time of the crash.
Security video of the crash showed the bus entering the intersection with a green light. A witness told reporters the fire truck entered the intersection at a high rate of speed without its emergency lights or siren activated. Neither account has been confirmed by investigators.
None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening, officials said.
The investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
MTA Bus and FDNY Vehicle Accidents in the Bronx, New York
When two city vehicles collide and injure passengers and bystanders, more than one government agency may share responsibility.
- Who may be liable: the MTA as the bus operator, the City of New York as the owner of the fire truck, and potentially either driver
- What investigators examine: intersection camera footage, the bus’s GPS and onboard camera data, and the fire truck’s dispatch log, including whether it was actively responding to a call and whether its emergency lights and siren were on at the time
- Whether the fire truck qualified for the limited legal protections given to emergency vehicles responding to a call, which generally still require reasonable care
- Fault has not yet been determined, and New York’s comparative negligence rule allows recovery even when responsibility is shared among more than one party
- Bus passengers who were standing or seated without a direct impact can still suffer real injuries, including whiplash and shoulder or wrist injuries from bracing against a sudden stop
A Bronx MTA accident attorney can start that notice-of-claim process immediately, while camera footage and dispatch records are still available.
Contact Our Bronx Bus Accident Attorneys
Whether you were riding the bus, working nearby, or caught in the intersection, being hurt in a crash involving two city vehicles leaves you facing bills and paperwork most people have never had to navigate.
Our Bronx bus accident lawyers have taken on cases against the MTA and the City of New York, including a $2,400,000 mediated settlement in a prior Bronx truck accident case, and understand how to move a claim forward against two government defendants at once.
Government notice-of-claim deadlines are strict and unforgiving, so the sooner your case is reviewed, the more time and evidence your attorney has to work with. Waiting even a few weeks can mean the difference between a properly filed claim and one that gets dismissed on a technicality.
We work on contingency. There is no cost to talk, and nothing owed unless we recover money for you. That first call can happen today, tonight, or whenever you have a free moment between hospital visits.
Why Bronx families trust Frekhtman & Associates:
- $900M+ recovered for injured New York clients across more than 25 years of practice
- $69,225,000 auto accident jury verdict, one of the largest in New York State history
- Free 24/7 consultations, including home and hospital visits for clients unable to travel
- Personal callbacks from founding attorney Arkady Frekhtman
- Russian-language services available
- Zero fees unless we win your case
- Bronx office at 20 E 205th St, serving families across the borough
- $2,400,000 mediated settlement in a Bronx truck accident (McKenna v. DJM Transportation)
